April 26, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Fresh violence in Somalia kills at least 6 people
26 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 161 words
At least six people were killed and many others injured in a heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops along with fighters from the pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa and al Shabaab fighters in central Somalia, witnesses said on Thursday.
Local residents told Shabelle Media that the combat erupted after al Shabaab insurgents in central Somalia in battle trucks attacked El Bur town overnight, some 150 kilometres south of the Ethiopian border, killing 6combatants from both warring sides.
Neither al Shabaab nor Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a has made any comments about the attack so far, but the town is said to be still under the control of Ethiopian troops and fighters from the pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. El Bur town in Galgadud region, central Somalia was the fourth al Shabaab stronghold to be seized by the Ethiopian forces, which deployed into lawless Somalia in November, after Kenya also sent troops into southern Somalia to battle the ruthless militia.
Key Headlines
- Somalia at its final stages of adopting a new constitution (Source: TFG)
- Somali pirates reportedly kill hostage on hijacked UAE ship (Source: Somalia Report)
- Ethiopia accused of jailing two Somali lawmakers (Source: Radio Shabelle)
- Somali PM: It is unacceptable to boycott the new draft constitution (Source: VOA)
- Al Shabaab fighters surrender to TFG forces (Source: Radio Shabelle)
- A journalist wounded another beat up by police in Mogadishu (Source: Somaliweyn)
PRESS RELEASE
Somalia at its final stages of adopting a new constitution
25 Apr – Source: TFG – 228 words
Today marks the beginning of a historic milestone in which the Transitional Federal Government is spearheading to implement tasks on ending the transition period as envisaged in the Roadmap Agreement. The Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliations (MCAR) has forwarded its plan to bring together the traditional elders, providing oversight to the process of nominating the constituent assembly for adopting a new constitution.
An update on the constitution-making process:
• About 65 percent of the traditional elders are currently in Mogadishu to attend to the Convention of Somalia Constitution.
• The government prepared the registration of potential delegates from the remaining regions where members of the constituent assembly are going to be selected from.
• The Administration has taken extra security measures and deployed hundreds of additional troops and police to the capital to ensure the safety of delegates in Mogadishu.
• The government urges the International Community to deliver the financial pledges that was earmarked for the constitution-making activities as we received no funds up-to-date for the conference.
• The Administration urges the Somali people to support efforts of the government in this crucial moment to end the transition period.
• The convention is expected to start in few days as registration of traditional elders will be wrapped up soon.
The government encourages delegates across the country to show patriotism and provide leadership to ensure that the transition ends as scheduled in August 20, 2012.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia prime minister calls International community to help Somalia
26 Apr – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 145 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiwali Mohamed Ali says the international community has not done the anticipated efforts promised by some donors in order to help strengthen the ability of the Somali government. The prime minister called to the International community to retake its duties to support the efforts of the Somali government. Abdiwali also underlined that his government is now facing new developments including the constitution reforms as the country is yet to recover from the insurgency of violence in Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab remains defiant in central Somalia regions
26 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 181 words
Al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage has said that the group have enough power to maneuver around anywhere in the country. In an interview he gave to an Islamist-owned radio, Ali Dhere claims to have paid a visit in areas under Kenya and Ethiopian control in south-western regions of Gedo, Bay and Bakol. “The enemy occupied only a few major towns and they are under constant attacks” Ali said in the interview. “We are ready to launch more attacks on the bases of the enemy and they cannot move on the ground as they want” he added.
Somali pirates reportedly kill hostage on hijacked UAE ship
26 Apr – Source: Somalia Report – 313 words
Somali pirate gangs are known for their creative pressure tactics used to encourage vessel owners into paying ransoms as quickly as possible. While pirates can be patient (the MV ICEBERG has been held for over two years) a decline in hijack success rates has resulted in increasingly brutal actions towards hostages, or at least threats of this nature.
This week, the Master of the MT Royal Grace, a UAE-owned chemical products tanker hijacked by pirates on 2 March of this year, emailed the owners stating that one of the crew members had been killed, but did not give the cause of death. Sources close to the captors of the vessel told Somalia Report that the allegedly deceased crew member is an Indian national, but diplomatic sources have claimed he is Nigerian.
It is very possible that the claim is simply pirate propaganda, and an attempt to pressure the owners into speeding up their negotiations. Pirates have not offered any further evidence of the alleged death.
The pirate gang is currently demanding 14m dollars for the release of the vessel, which will slowly reduce as negotiations develop. Initially, pirates were demanding 25m dollars. Pirates hijacked the ship and kidnapped its 22 crew members (comprised of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals) off the Omani coast, while the vessel was on its maiden voyage to Nigeria. The ship was in ballast at the time.
This is not the only such claim this week. Somalia Report received reports from a variety of sources on Wednesday [25 April] afternoon that one crew member of Taiwanese-owned, Omani-flagged fishing vessel NAHAM 3 had died. Pirates did not give the cause of death.
Fresh violence in Somalia kills at least 6 people
26 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 161 words
At least six people were killed and many others injured in a heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops along with fighters from the pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa and al Shabaab fighters in central Somalia, witnesses said on Thursday. Local residents told Shabelle Media that the combat erupted after al Shabaab insurgents in central Somalia in battle trucks attacked El Bur town overnight, some 150 kilometres south of the Ethiopian border, killing 6combatants from both warring sides.
Neither al Shabaab nor Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a has made any comments about the attack so far, but the town is said to be still under the control of Ethiopian troops and fighters from the pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a. El Bur town in Galgadud region, central Somalia was the fourth al Shabaab stronghold to be seized by the Ethiopian forces, which deployed into lawless Somalia in November, after Kenya also sent troops into southern Somalia to battle the ruthless militia.
Ethiopia accused of jailing two Somali lawmakers
25 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle, Somalia Report – 97 words
Reliable news sources from the southern Somali town of Baidoa said on Wednesday that Ethiopian forces arrested two Somali lawmakers after allegedly opposing the creation of a regional state. Sheikh Aden Mohammed Nur (Aden Madobe) and Mohammed Ibrahim Habsade were seized in their homes by the Ethiopian troops before being airlifted to a jail on the border between Somalia and Ethiopia. Sheikh Aden Mohammed Nur (former Somali parliament speaker), Mohammed Ibrahim Habsade (former TFG Minister of Transport) had been on tour in Bay and Bakol regions of Somalia after allied forces captured the regions from al Shabaab militants.
Somali PM: It is unacceptable to boycott the new draft constitution
25 Apr – Source: VOA Somali Service/Shabelle – 141 words
Somali PM Abdiweli Mohammed Ali has on Wednesday spoken out against opposing figures the new draft constitution of Somalia. Speaking with Somali VOA service based in Washington, United States of America, the Somali premier commented on the constitution’s opponents, saying: “everybody who tries to reject or boycott the constitution will be viewed as the common enemy of Somali people and the restoration of Somalia into a permanent government.”
“They should bring definite articles to show us their negative response to the draft constitution, but we will never allow them to bar this draft constitution from getting into effect and use”, the PM added. This comments take place after senior Somali clerics warned on Monday that the UNDP-funded draft constitution, comprising of 69 pages, is intentionally endangering the Islamic religion and the nationhood of the country.
Somaliland gov’t invites investors for Berbera port project
25 Apr Source: Somaliland Press – 98 words
Somaliland government urges international and national parties to invest in the redevelopment of Berbera port. In a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Government of Somaliland stated that it is keen to enter a dialogue with both international and national investors interested in developing the Berbera port facility and the road that links it with landlocked Ethiopia.
Somaliland points out that the development of Berbera Port and the corridor is among its national priority as it will improve economic development and employment. The government therefore encourages investors from abroad and from the country to support this programme.
Al Shabaab fighters surrender to TFG forces
26 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle – 110 words
Fighters who are said to have defected from al Shabaab have surrendered to Somalia government forces in Gedo region, military officials said on Thursday. TFG troop officials in the southern Somali town of Qoqani say they have received several al Shabaab defectors with pick-up trucks who peacefully crossed the frontline zones overnight to give themselves up to Somali government soldiers.
This contingent of al Shabaab deserters whose exact number has not been released yet brought with them small arms armed technical wagons, according to officials. The officials told Shabelle that the fighters will be displayed to the local journalists and residents in Qoqani district in Gedo region in southern Somalia.
A journalist wounded, another beat up by police in Mogadishu
25 Apr – Source: Somaliweyn/Markacadeey – 148 words
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is alarmed by the journalist slightly wounded by a stray bullet in Mogadishu on Tuesday evening around 6: 30PM local time, while the union also condemns the beating of a journalist by police in Mogadishu on 23 April, 2012.
The editor of the privately-owned SIMBA radio, Abdi Aziz Mohamed Diirie was hit by a stray bullet on the left leg below the knee which penetrated the muscle on Tuesday evening 24 April, 2012 around 6:30pm local time at the Bakara market.
The incident happened shortly after he was leaving the radio station heading home, following a fire fight in that neighbourhood, according to Abdi Aziz Mohamed Diirie who spoke with NUSOJ over the phone. “I am in a good health situation and currently staying at my home” Abdi Aziz Mohamed Diirie told NUSOJ, “It is just a slight wound and I came home on my feet.”
Al Shabaab warns Sierra Leone not to deploy troops into southern Somalia
26 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 126 words
Al Shabaab has warned on Thursday troops from Sierra Leone not to deploy in south Somalia otherwise they will meet retaliation attacks against them, al Shabaab spokesman said. Ali Mohamud Rageh (Ali Dhere), the spokesman of al Shabaab fighters, threatened the government of Sierra Leone not to dispatch their boys to Gedo, Lower Jubba and Middle regions of southern Somalia otherwise they will collect more bodies from there.
Al Shabaab’s announcement came as the Somali government and AMISOM in Mogadishu await the first deployment of 850 soldiers from Sierra Leone in June to boost the Kenyan army. A month ago, military officers from Sierra Leone and Kenya visited the southern region of Gedo region to agree on locations for the new deployment.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Dar es Salaam skips Kampala tourney as Somalia fields two sides
25 Apr – Source: Citizen Daily (Tanzania) – 530 words
The East Africa Inter City Basketball Championship started yesterday in Kampala, but disappointingly Tanzania has failed to field its troops in the coveted event.In contrast, Somalia, a country ravaged by civil war and hunger for two decades, has Mogadishu and Hanshirya fighting for the prestigious title.
Just a fortnight ago, stakes were high for the Tanzanian sides to leave their mark at the Kampala event, but shortage of funds has dealt a big blow to the country’s envoys.This is the first time Tanzania fails to send at last one team in the annual tournament, which brings together all city sides from the region.
The event, which is recognised by the world governing body –Fiba, saw Dar es Salaam embark on preparations early, but had their hopes dashed in the eleventh hour when the city council offered just 7 per cent of the required money.
“It is a disappointment that we have missed out on this tournament because we really wanted to take part and actually win the trophy. “However, the city council which is responsible for our preparations said it had no money to support the team,” said Alfred Ngalalija, who is the Dar es Salaam Basketball Association president.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
South African navy in joint pirate bust
25 Apr – Source: South Africa – 446 words
The South African Navy played a key role in a major multi-national operation that saw 12 suspected pirates captured and six Sri Lankan hostages rescued off the coast of Tanzania last week.
Revealing the operation on Wednesday, the navy said a suspected pirate mother ship had coincidentally been spotted off the Tanzanian coast during a search the previous weekend for the South African yacht Dandelion.
South African Navy ship the SAS Drakensberg, which is equipped for anti-piracy operations and was busy patrolling the Mozambican Channel at the time, was helping the French Navy when the pirate suspects were spotted last Monday.
“The pirate mother ship, with a skiff in tow, was identified as the Sri Lankan fishing vessel Nimesha Duwak which was captured by pirates on 9 November last year,” the navy said in a statement.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“A number of non-Somali analysts in the Washington area have been arguing for the past two years that the United States should engage the likes of Sheikh Hassan and Robow in dialogue with the goal of bringing them into a Somali coalition government.”
Split in Somalia’s al Shabaab Organization
25 Apr – Source: Davidshinn Blog – 283 words
Abdi Aynte, a Somali journalist with Al Jazeera English, has published a superb analysis of the growing split in Somalia’s al-Shabaab organization. He argues that Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Muktar Robow have effectively broken with the more radical leadership of al-Shabaab, especially Ahmed Abdi Godane. Sheikh Hassan wants desperately to become president of Somalia and is moving to create an alternative to both al-Shabaab and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Abdi Aynte emphasizes that Somali alliances are constantly shifting and the “self-immolation of al-Shabaab is a step closer to ending one of Somalia’s most brutal episodes.
“The Somali pirates have attacked 102 ships. This resulted in the capture of nine ships, the death of two sailors and the capture of 152. Currently, pirates are holding 15 ships, but only nine are large vessels likely to bring a big ransom. About 240 sailors are being held. Smaller cargo and fishing vessels are taken for use as mother ships, and usually released, with their crews, after a few months”.
The Pirate’s Lament
26 Apr – Source: Strategy Page – 501 words
The Somali pirates are having a much more difficult time this year, due to better tactics by the anti-piracy patrol. This has mainly to do with more aggressive treatment of mother ships. These vessels, which can operate far from the coast, are sought out and destroyed. As a result, so far this year there have only been 27 attacks in the Indian Ocean, compared to 91 in the same period last year. That’s a 70 percent reduction. The success rate of pirate attacks is about a third of what it was three years ago. Large ships are better prepared for possible attacks and the anti-piracy patrol has developed more effective techniques for getting to ships under attack, in time to defeat the pirates.
Top tweets
@yahyarmy2010 #swabzy #
@carolyndunncbc RT @IanOxfam: US gives extra $120m to Horn of Africa to avoid crisis escalating in Ethiopia, Kenya & Somalia … .
@CeynteJr #al-Shabab is sturdy in regions of central of #Somaliahttp://www.hiiraan.
@somalianalyst I talk about the issues raised by the #Shabab Sinka Dheer weapons haul in my column this weekhttp://www.somaliareport.
@SomaliThinker “The constitution is a wonderful document; but not even 5,000 Somalis have seen it.”- Dr Ali Khalif Galaydh – former Somalia PM.
Image of the day
April 25, 2012, World Malaria Day marked in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo: Radio Mogadishu